I was the very embodiment of everything our society worries could go wrong with a little boy, and in my small Midwestern town in the early '80s, I was every father's nightmare awoken and menacingly mincing my way through our local mall's food court.

Texas lawmakers are gunning for the judge who let two lesbians to get married. Meanwhile, homophobic lawmakers celebrate the 10th anniversary of the state's marriage ban. There's just one problem -- the law will probably be overturned before it actually turns 10.

Now, perhaps more than ever before, black people are joining forces and standing up for their rights and recognition. Yet, there is still disharmony within that same united front when it comes to accepting our transgender brothers and sisters.

Coaching with a clear mind has allowed me to be better at my job. It has allowed me to open up to my team and share experiences. It has made us closer. I have friends that I truly could not live without. We are a unique family that exists from similar experiences. I coach boys high school basketball and yes, I'm gay.

One can't help but wonder: Are these magazines for straight men only? I am unaware of their average reader's sexual orientation, however, at least statistically, surely conjecturally, a portion of the readership must identify as gay or bisexual.

As mothers, you aren't just teaching your children. You're teaching fathers, and dads-to-be, and dads-in-waiting. Men like me, like my husband, men that neither I nor you will ever meet, men in faraway places and men around the block, who have everything to offer a child. So please, if you don't mind, keep teaching.

Before kids, we went to Turkey, South Africa and Thailand and even contemplated Lebanon. But after two adoptions and the current state of LGBT rights worldwide, our safe zones have become greatly reduced.

We know that countless numbers of men and women have been, and continue to be, persecuted simply for being who they are. We understand how fortunate we are just to be able to raise our children and to glimpse the possibilities in store for them.

Many parents thought the song should be an anthem in every elementary school in the country. But others refused to let their child sing on the song, or even sing on the recording, if we were going to include this song.

Growing up kinky, queer, non-binary, and non-heteronormative is a mixed bag that often includes struggles and self-doubt. But you grow up, and chances are that you will find that person or those people who don't just accept you but are grateful for who you turned out to be.

There are aspects of ourselves that we are encouraged never to reveal; but I'm not a unicorn. I'm a man. I'm a black man. I'm a black male teacher. I'm a good, queer, black male teacher who is not quite as good when I feel it must be kept a secret.

Failure to adequately protect transgender students means that transgender people and their families often face hostile, unsafe, or unwelcoming school environments. Harassment and violence make it difficult for transgender students to obtain the skills and education they need to succeed.

No dear, I don't know why the guy you're into won't text you back. (I still haven't figured that out for my own purposes.) And, for the love of all that is good and HOLY: I am not -- repeat, NOT -- an honorary girl.

At the very least, you can make a movie next year about white women and gender inequality and have the Oscars rally around you. It is never the same for gay people and people of color, as evidenced by the lack of color in this year's Oscar movies.